If anyone has a photo of this strip of stores from the 1940's through the 1970'splease send me a copy of it to post, I know everyone would love it.ThanksI tried to duplicate my picture that I took back in the 1970'sHere is that same shot as it looks today.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Just a warm THANK YOU from us at Whit’s End for your postings about our Black Friday/Terrific Thursday sales. Many, many folks have come in from your generous promotions. You are providing a valuable tool for neighbors to get more information, and continue to allow our community to thrive in this tough economic time. As residents and merchants of Decatur, we are grateful for your efforts, and proud of your accolades.

I enjoy reading and seeing all of the information given throughout these great venues to keep folks informed.

Happy Black Friday! First things first: Good news! The dessert I prepared for Roland’s family’s Thanksgiving was a huge hit. I thought at first everyone was humoring me, but when I saw none of my pumpkin roll was left, I breathed my first sigh of relief. And as I hoped, everyone welcomed me with open arms. A great holiday!

On Wednesday as I baked the pumpkin dessert, I listened to Christmas songs, most notably Mariah Carey’s holiday album from years ago. Throw in some Nat King Cole, some Harry Connick Jr., some Bing Crosby and even Amy Grant’s ancient album. (My mother often played that record, so it has some nostalgia for Blanca.)

Many of the songs, like Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas,” center around the concept of missing an Ex during the holidays, or perhaps just wanting a significant other with whom to share the special times.

I was thinking about this as a girlfriend of mine called me Wednesday from the airport, complaining that she was seated across from two lovebirds canoodling as they traveled home for the holidays. She mentioned that she’s particularly down spending the day as a single woman watching others in love.

What is it about the holidays that make us a want a partner? Why isn’t just spending it with family and friends enough? For those of you who are happy and content as strong single folk, do you find your mood changes once the mistletoe is hung?

Die-hard shoppers made their pilgrimages to metro area malls and outlet centers Friday, though traffic appeared to be moderate and many said they planned to trim their spending in light of this fall’s economic slowdown.

Some mall parking lots were filling up by mid-morning, while others had plenty of space. Discounters Wal-Mart and Target saw moderate to heavy traffic, as did Discover Mills in Gwinnett County. Traffic was steady but relatively light at North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville.full story here.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

(now The Great Tree at Macy's.) is a large (70 to 90-foot tall) cut pine Christmas tree that has been an Atlanta tradition since 1948. [1] That year, the Rich's department store put a large pine tree atop its downtown store, lighting it on Thanksgiving night. The idea was conceived by head of advertising, Frank Pallotta. Later, the tree was perched over a seven-story "Crystal Bridge" that connected the original Rich's department store with a new building addition on the opposite side of Forsyth Street. With the tree on the roof of the complex, combined with its tall height, the Great Tree truly was great and could be seen for tens of miles outside the downtown district of Atlanta. It was visible for decades, well into the early 1970s, but as the city grew with new, taller skyscrapers, the view of the Great Tree became more obscured in its last two decades at the downtown store.

As the tree became an Atlanta tradition, more was added to the display to create an attraction in its own right. This included Santa's Workshop, complete with "Reindeer" on loan from the Stone Mountain Park Petting Zoo that parents and children would walk through on the way to visit with Santa Claus. Also, inside the store, was Santa's 'Secret Shop'. Off-limits to the adults, childern entered an enclosed mini shopping area. With money vouchers in-hand, we bought gifts for parents and everyone! All of this spirit of Christmas started at the street level with wonderfull animated window displays. The goal of course...for us kids... whatever the current 'home', was the Pink Pig!. The undeniable star of Rich's, the Pink Pig, a carnival ride of sorts that was a miniature monorail sized for children. Adults would be hard-pressed to fit inside the enclosed cars that the children sat in as the ride operated. The original ride 'flew' from the ceiling of the toy department. Later, it moved to a Christmas village outside the building that surrounded the Great Tree. [Ed et all Q. I remember inside/outside but not both at once.] and once the Pig returned indoors, it "flew" over the toy department before returning to its starting point. The original pink Pig was named Priscilla. A second pig, named Percival was later added to meet the high demand to ride the pig. After completing their journey, riders got a sticker that said "I rode the Pink Pig" that became a badge of honor.

The ride moved to the Festival of Trees in the 1990s, and resided at the Atlanta History Center. The ride was resurrected in 2004 when it reappeared at Rich's Lenox Square Mall, the new location for the Great Tree. It should be noted that the new version of the Pink Pig is a conventional train ride with a miniature pink pig (locomotive) pulling a set of pink child-sized passenger cars at ground level, instead of the original monorail design. I suspect the original monorail was retired due to modern safety and liability issues as well as the probability that because the original monorail system was so old it could not be maintained as a viable and safe children's ride.

During the time The Great Tree was at the downtown Rich's store, it was undeniably the biggest Christmas-time attraction in the Southeastern United States. Parents from around the South brought their children to downtown Atlanta expressly to experience this attraction and have their picture taken with the Rich's Santa Claus. The waiting lines to ride the Pig and to see Santa very much compare to the lines that we see today where people stand for hours to ride one of the popular amusement park rides in today's theme parks. Millions of children and their parents made the annual migration during its tenure. Today in the 21st Century, when people try to prove how "Southern" they are, one of the most proudest claims to that right is that they rode The Pink Pig Monorail at the Downtown Rich's department store. The Pink Pig was an immensely popular attraction in its own right. Decades after the original Pink Pig was retired, many Atlanta natives who rode the pig as children fondly reminisce about their rides in the pig. The ride inspired the book I Rode the Pink Pig: Atlanta's Favorite Christmas Tradition.

Lynne Sawicki's culinary background spans 24 years in the Atlanta area. You might know her from Star Provisions, where she worked in the meat and seafood department for 3 years. She was with the company for 8 years, starting at Floataway Café as Chef de Cuisine. Lynne brings her experience to her store offering a wide variety of salumi, cured and fresh meats, wild seafood and local organic produce and to offer her expertise in handling and preparations. Her mission? "To teach others what I know so that they too can cook a wonderful, restaurant quality dinner at their homes."eveningedge/AJC

Photo:Gerald SingletaryThis aerial view of the Stonecrest area is from October. Expansions will include a Wal-Mart, a Holiday Inn and auto dealerships.

By DONNA WILLIAMS LEWIS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Construction crews still dot the landscape around the Mall at Stonecrest, seven years after the mall that it seemed would never be built finally opened in southeast DeKalb County.

“It has exceeded all of our expectations,” said Maria Mullins, director of DeKalb’s Office of Economic Development.The mall was a long time coming. For 18 years, land off I-20 at Turner Hill Road in Lithonia sat cleared as a series of developers approached and retreated from the project. Ground finally was broken for Stonecrest in October 1999 by Toronto-based commercial real estate investor Cadillac Fairview and its partner on the mall, Cleveland-based real estate developer Forest City Enterprises.

Stonecrest transformed the once-sleepy, rural area. Now the 1,100 acres that comprise the mall and adjacent property owned by Cadillac Fairview include five hotels, nearly 20 restaurants, several office buildings, dozens of businesses and hundreds of homes.

Moving beyond the mall, thousands of homes — from apartments to single family houses priced from $200,000 to $500,000 — have been built, are under construction or planned in subdivisions within a one-mile radius.

Here’s an update on the mall:

What’s new

• In the mall: Kohl’s has joined Dillard’s, Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Sears as an anchor.

• New office space: A 55,000-square-foot building with Strayer University as anchor tenant and a 30,000- square-foot medical building anchored by DeKalb Medical have opened. Kaiser Permanente has opened in an 18,000-square-foot building, with plans to expand to 32,000 square feet.

• Residential: Ryland Homes has finished about 300 homes and 20 townhomes among 1,028 homes planned for The Parks at Stonecrest.

• Restaurants: An IHOP restaurant opened last summer with an upscale, stacked stone exterior.

• Entertainment area: An entertainment village originally was planned to be built on 30 acres adjacent to the mall’s movie theater plaza. The area is being reinvented as a mixed-use “hospitality/retail/residential area.” Two acres have just been sold there for Stonecrest’s sixth hotel, a Marriott.

• Grocery store: The proposed Wal-Mart is expected to have a grocery division. Cadillac Fairview also is considering holding open-air markets that would sell produce and other wares on the property.

Growth around Stonecrest

• Flat Rock Elementary School opened in August 2007 on Evans Mill Road near Browns Mill Road. A new environmentally themed high school, Arabia Mountain High School, is under construction off Browns Mill Road, and is expected to open next summer.

• Ground was broken Nov. 21 for a 25,000-square-foot public library branch at the intersection of Klondike Road and Hayden Quarry Road. Construction is scheduled to begin in December. Projected opening: January 2010.

• The state Department of Transportation has launched an $8.9 million project to widen and reconstruct 1.2 miles on Lithonia Industrial Boulevard, from Rogers Lake Road to Rock Chapel Road. A bridge will be built over the Swift Creek tributary.

Our sales specials for this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be 20% off all Columbia fleece, shirts, sweaters, jackets, and sweatshirts, and 10% off all other non-sale items in the store (excluding DHS Spirit Wear, and Photography).

Also on sale now at 20% off are all TOMS SHOES. (Remember, a child in need gets a free pair for each pair sold.) All Docker’s pants, and Patagonia Shoes are on sale. Some gifts and clothing are clearance priced, as are all Columbia shoes.

If you can’t come in this weekend, please stop by and have a glass of wine with us and enjoy additional savings each Thursday evening in December.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

It's one month till Christmas, if you are one of those who set up a train set under your Christmas tree every year, you better dust off the old train set and start planning your setup.

Remember metal Christmas tree tinsel and bubbling lights ? How about the distinctive aroma from the motor of the electric train circling the tree ? Or the sound of the train whistle ? Christmas is a time when all of our senses seem heightned and childhood memories are happy. (Toy Train Memories).

The photo above is my Christmas Train Layout.

If you have a photo of your Christmas train layout send it to me and I will post it.and add it to my Electric Train Xmas site.

The SceneA musical pilgrimage for aspiring singer-songwriters, Eddie's may resemble a crowded attic, but its coziness, combined with an excellent sound system, serves the acoustic-only performers well. While earnest artists sing their hearts out on stage, patrons sip cocktails, respectfully adhering to the "quiet listening" policy (no cell phones, smoking or loud chatter). An outside patio bar is the designated area for making noise and shooting pool.

The DrawHaving launched talent such as the Indigo Girls, John Mayer and Shawn Mullin, this music room is ripe for catching the next big thing. The all-ages 7pm show on Fridays and Saturdays serves as a warm-up for the 21-and-up crowd that strolls in for the 9pm performance. If hunger strikes, an expanded bar-food menu ranges from loaded nachos to sauteed tilapia.

Insider TipsKnow Before You Go

Your best bet is to order tickets online and arrive at the venue early. Entrance to the music room is based on the order that tickets were purchased online.When to Go

If you think you deserve a gig at Eddie's, try out on Mondays at the open mic. You can win cash and stage time.The Extras

If you live in the City of Decatur, bring your I.D. with a "30030" zip code and your second drink is free.City Search.

Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes: Living GreenFriday, December 5, and Saturday, December 65:30-9:30 p.m.

We are a little over a week away from the Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes. This year's tour features homes with the theme of "Living Green." Take a look inside eight of Decatur's most interesting homes. This year's tour focuses on homes renovated in eco-friendly ways, using "green" materials and techniques to minimize their impact on the Earth. Take the free Cliff shuttle from home to home, and to four exciting points of interest. Proceeds from the tour benefit the Decatur Youth Fund and the Decatur Preservation Alliance.

Volunteers receive a complimentary ticket to take the Tour. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at Seventeen Steps, Intown Ace Hardware, Bicycle South, and The Seen Gallery. Proceeds from the tour benefit the Decatur Youth Fund, which sends disadvantaged Decatur youths to summer school, summer camp and specialty camps, and the Decatur Preservation Alliance, which operates the Woodlands Garden and works to protect and preserve the city's architectural heritage. Read more about the homes on the Tour at http://decaturtourofhomes.com. Volunteer sign up forms are also available on the website.

Most volunteer positions still open are during the second shift both evenings. Volunteers are welcome to pick up their ticket before their shift, so they may start touring prior to their shift. To sign up, please call Lee Ann Harvey at 678-553-6548 or email leeannharvey@decaturga.com and be sure to give your name, shift time preferred, email address, and day and evening phone. We appreciate your support of the Tour.

Monday, November 24, 2008

The story behind the card is special to me. If you didn't know Renewal Construction Inc. is located at 124 S. Columbia Dr. Decatur, GA. That address is special to me because my parents lived there in the 1940's so I contacted Kelly CheekMarketing Manager of Renewal Construction and told her my story and sent her pictures that I had showing my parents in front of the house, and also the way the house looked in the 1980's when it was a church/bible store. They loved the photos so much they made a Thanksgiving Card to use for their company showing 124 S. Columbia Dr. through the years.Thanks to everyone over at Renewal Construction Inc. for using my photos.and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

This Thanksgiving let Wahoo! do the cooking for you. Order your side dishes or full meal today by calling 404-373-3331.Wahoo! will be open and acccepting reservations for all parties on Wednesday, Nov. 26th

Sunday, November 23, 2008

You never know quite what to expect at a S.S.S.S. Professor Morte could summon ghastly ghosts that swarm over the audience's heads, hot ghoul on ghoul action from Blast Off Blast Off Burlesque and people have been know to win their very own and very real DEAD BODY.

Starting Jan. 6, busing will be cut back for most students who attend schools outside their neighborhood; the busing cutback will start next school year for Champion Theme Middle School.

The change affects about 5,600 of the school district’s 99,600 students. It’s one of several budget-cutting proposals approved this month in the wake of a sour economy and further cuts in state funding.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Here is a list of things to do in and around AtlantaI know this is not all Decatur stuff, but people who live in Decatur do have cars and I don't think their cars would stop running at the city limits, I think people who do read blogs or websites for information won't mind a little other news mixed in.

Life University’s annual Lights of Life display includes more than a million tiny twinkling lights on a mile-long course. 6-10 p.m. $5 per car; $10 per van; $20 per bus. 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta. 770-426-2905, www.life.edu.

Clairemont Elementary School, is hosting its 16th Annual Decatur Holiday Marketplace and Café on Friday and Saturday, December 5-6th, 2008. The event, a fundraiser for Clairemont PTA, showcases more than 90 artists and craftspeople selling their wares in a festive setting during the holiday season. http://www.decaturholidaymarketplace.com/index.htmlThe Café, located in the school's cafeteria, features homemade soups and baked goods, as well as live music from local musicians.

Directions:• Get on Clairemont Road going south toward Decatur Square• After the light at North Decatur Road (Emory Commons Shopping Area) the light at Scott Blvd., and the light at Michigan Ave. Turn left onto Erie Ave. (Landmark: Lutheran Church).• Clairemont Elementary is the 4th building on the right, after the church's parking lot.

Wiggles gives thanks.A big thanks to Atlanta Magazine for noticing little old Wiggle this year. We are proud to have been named Best Kids Clothes in Atlanta this year and will be featured in the upcoming edition of the magazine.

“Best of Atlanta Kids Clothes” — Parents who want their kids to look like kids–cute, playful, neat, innocent–and not like mini versions of the cast of Gossip Girl can rejoice in the updated classics and just-hip-enough lines carried by Kolby Sanders-Lewis. Unlike the many boutiques that overemphasize party clothes for girls, Wiggle caters to both boys and girls and stocks lots of affordable play clothes (love those Charlie Rocket hoodies and CoCo Bonbons pinafore dresses).

Robert Klenberg looked for 10 years for a second location for his quirky, family-owned five-and-dime, Richard’s Variety Store.

Yet fear of opening another location — with another lease payment, more stock and additional staff — kept him waiting in the wings.But last month, he finally did it. He opened a second outpost in the Midtown Promenade shopping center, next to a Trader Joe’s and Tuesday Morning.

It may seem counterintuitive to open a retail store in the midst of a recession. But a shaky economy hides blessings and curses.

On the blessing side, independent Atlanta retailers are finding more pliable landlords, better locations and an eager work force.

“Of course it scared me to open in the middle of the recession,” said Klenberg, 54. He and his wife, Ming Yang, 45, own and operate their two stores.

But Klenberg said the downturn helped him snag a prime location near two well-known retailers, restaurants, bars and a movie theater, right near Piedmont Park.

On the curse side, however, consumers right now are tight-fisted and unpredictable. Combined with the housing crisis and credit crunch, retailers are in for tough times during the holiday season — and beyond.

Photo:Jason Getz/jgetz@ajc.comThe ‘big pretty clock,’ as employees call it, watches over Richard’s Variety Store in the Midtown Promenade shopping center. The owners took 10 years to decide on the location, and they say business is great.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Designer Kenneth Cole, chairman of the world’s largest HIV/AIDS research organization, will give the keynote address at an Emory University ceremony marking World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. In the fourth annual “Quilt on the Quad,” the university will display 800 panels from he AIDS Memorial Quilt from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Cole, an Emory alumnus, will speak at the opening of the exhibit. The quilt display is sponsored by Emory Hillel.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Hoopla, an eclectic children’s store in Decatur, started as a friendship. Sabrina Lilly and Linda Beckstein crossed paths as fellow “retailers” in the corporate world. Jobs changed but the friendship grew over time with lots of cups of coffee, dreaming of having their own store. Finally, as any seed that is planted and nurtured, it sprouted into a brick and mortar store with “fun stuff for kids”. Books, puzzles, retro toys and children’s apparel, shoes and accessories all come together to create a store for shopping and playing.Hoopla Store

“It was really important for us to have a place that people could not only shop in but also have fun in” Sabrina and Linda agree.

They have added additional services like monogramming and gift registry to help meet the needs of their customers. Party favors and stocking stuffers are a natural with their large selection of “bin” candy and toys.

The Decatur area has been a great community to start a business in and is a great place to spend the afternoon browsing the shops and restaurants. So Sabrina and Linda invite you to come shop and play!

PARKING OPTIONS- Pay Lot near Johnny's Pizza- Metered Parking on Sycamore St. or on the Square- Parking Garage on the corner of Church and Ponce

Hoopla is just a few short steps away from MARTA (Decatur Station) on Church Street in beautiful downtown Decatur, Georgia.

This mind boggling doormat reads differently depending whether you are walking in or out of the house.

It's got to be seen to be believed but from one side this really does read "Come In" and from the other "Go Away". And when you have finished marvelling at this remarkable feat of graphic design you can wipe the mud from your boots too!!

Mickey got his start in life after his creator, Walt Disney, got screwed over by Universal Pictures. In 1928, Disney was heading up Disney Brothers Studio for Universal and riding high with his wildly popular character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Rather than reward Disney for his success, Universal stole his character, hired away his employees and offered to let him stick around at a reduced salary. That was an offer Disney could - and did - refuse.

Walt Disney and his loyal animator Ub Iwerks went back to the drawing board, transforming Oswald the Rabbit into a mouse. Mickey, briefly known as Mortimer, struggled through a few animated bombs before finally getting his big break on November 18, 1928. On that date in New York City, Steamboat Willie premiered to rave reviews. The first animation to feature synchronized music and sound effects, the film made Mickey Mouse a star.

With Mickey's popularity spreading across the country, Walt Disney kicked the marketing into high gear. Mickey Mouse merchandise was created and within two years, the lovable rodent had his own fan club - The Mickey Mouse Club. Take that, Universal Pictures!

Over the years, Mickey has undergone numerous makeovers but his appeal remains constant. He has transcended his humble beginnings to become a cultural icon recognized and loved around the world. And unlike many other Disney stars, Mickey never succumbed to the temptations of fame and remains to this day an appropriate object of affection for children everywhere. Happy Birthday, Mickey!

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Druid Hills Bridge on Ponce has had many high trucks scrap and even get stuck trying to go under. 10 ft. will not clear in right lane. Do they even have a "Warning" low bridge sign before you get to to it. The sign posted on bridge I think is a little to late. Trucks flying down Ponce need a better warning.

Decatur residents could see their city and school taxes go up in the coming years if the city doesn’t add new property to its four-square-mile borders, according to reports released during a joint session of the city commission and school board Monday.

Despite the dire projections — showing that without new revenue the city could be up to $1 million the hole and the schools could be up to $2.2 million in the red — the reports stopped short of recommending annexation.That, officials said, has yet to be decided.

“We are anxiously considering the options and whether we want to do this,” said Mayor Bill Floyd. “For us not to consider [annexation] would almost be irresponsible. But we are not yet for or against it, just looking at options.”

The city has weighed annexation for several years but keeps bumping against a major issue: how to find space for an influx of students into the school district.

One option to avoid that worry would be to annex only commercial areas to the north of the city. A second option calls for adding those areas, as well as two large residential neighborhoods, Forrest Hills and Midway Woods.

School superintendent Phyllis Edwards said that the district is already facing $2 million in cuts at a time when enrollment projections show a need for up to 10 additional classrooms in the coming year — even without annexation.

Adding an expected 450 new students through annexation to a district of 2,684 students would require a reconfiguration of school maps and the re-opening of another school. Opening an additional school would absorb annexation growth, as well as other yearly increases, but would require about 18 months of planning to be done right, she said.

None of the four dozen people in the audience was invited to speak on the reports. City residents have objected in the past to annexation, over concerns for the school district.

The 7,000 DeKalb residents who would join the city appear to be mixed on the move, since it would mean higher taxes. Homeowner association surveys show Midway Woods about evenly split on the issue, with 78 percent of Forrest Hill residents in favor of annexation.

The city commission will hold a public hearing on the issue on Dec. 1. The school board plans a public hearing sometime in early December as well.

The city commission is slated to vote on whether to seek state approval for annexation on Dec. 15.More on ajc.com

Taco Mac, which began in 1979 as a dive bar and wings restaurant, has expanded over the years to become a serious contender in the metro Atlanta casual dining market. Here, bartender Rachel Kelly, 21, pours a Bass for a customer at Taco Mac on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. ELISSA EUBANKS / eeubanks@ajc.com

Taco Mac expanding in town and out of stateMetro Atlanta-based restaurant chain has gotten more sophisticated as it has grown

By JOE GUY COLLIER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Monday, November 17, 2008

Bob Campbell, president of Atlanta-based Tappan Street Restaurant Group, has learned to be careful with the changes his company makes to its Taco Mac restaurants.

Taco Mac managers decided a few years ago to fix the storefront clock at the original Virginia-Highland location. It had been stuck at 7 for years.“We got all kinds of phone calls and e-mails from people saying, ‘As long as I’ve been going to Taco Mac in Virginia-Highland, it’s always been 7 o’clock’,” Campbell said. “We fixed it for like a day.”

As Taco Mac grows, Campbell and Tappan walk a line between preserving an Atlanta fixture and opening some of the area’s most modern sports restaurants and bars.

Started in 1979 as a dive bar and wings restaurant, Taco Mac has expanded to become a major player in the Atlanta casual dining market. Taco Mac has added sites this year in Cumming, Midtown and Philips Arena to bring the chain to 22 restaurants overall.

It has three more restaurants planned in 2009. Taco Macs are expected to open in Canton, The Prado in Sandy Springs and Charlotte. The parent company also will open a new concept in Brookhaven called Deckard’s, a slightly more upscale restaurant.

In many ways, Taco Mac has grown up and out with Atlanta, said Harold Shumacher, a local restaurant real-estate broker and president of the Shumacher Group.

College-age residents became familiar with the original site in the 1980s, Shumacher said. As this first wave of customers got older, they moved to the suburbs and Taco Mac followed them, he said.

Taco Mac is becoming more polished as it opens new restaurants, Shumacher said. The Midtown location has a modern interior design inspired by a cascading glass of Guinness beer.

“They have taken their stores up not just a notch but several notches,” Shumacher said. “These are slick, state-of-the-art, very contemporary, thoughtfully built-out facilities. They don’t have a grubby pub look.”

Taco Mac, though, could soon run out of room to grow in Atlanta, Shumacher said. The challenge is transferring its brand to new markets, he said.

Taco Mac’s only location outside of metro Atlanta is in Chattanooga. People in places such as Nashville, Charlotte and Orlando might mistake it for a Mexican restaurant at first glance, Shumacher said. “The challenge there is name-brand recognition,” he said.

Taco Mac has dealt with a misunderstood identity since it was started in 1979, said Campbell, president of Taco Mac’s parent company.

The chain goes by Taco Mac, even though Buffalo wings are the main attraction, because the founders started the restaurant at the site of a former taco shack. They decided to spend money to renovate the kitchen instead of buying a new sign.

Customers wouldn’t stand for a different name now, Campbell said. “We’ll never change the name,” he said.

Taco Mac, though, has altered its strategy in some key areas, Campbell said.

It added draft beer after managers visited a tavern in California in the early 1990s that featured a wide selection of beer on tap. The move also coincided with the rise in popularity of craft beer.

It added more TVs after noticing big crowds during the Braves’ worst-to-first playoff run in 1991.

Taco Mac is now expanding with a clearer vision of the brand, Campbell said. Every new restaurant has about 100 beer taps and a dizzying array of flat-panel televisions.

The chain also is using its size in metro Atlanta to increase its credibility with beer geeks, said Fred Crudder, Tappan Street’s beverage director.

Taco Mac has negotiated exclusive releases of some craft beers as they enter the Atlanta market. The events have drawn traffic on normally slow nights, Crudder said.

It’s also landed special limited-run kegs. Taco Mac is working with three Atlanta brewers on special beers to celebrate its 30th anniversary next year.

Taco Mac still has the mainstream beers, but it wants to continue building a reputation with beer lovers, Crudder said.

“We don’t want to ever be exclusive of anyone,” Crudder said. “We have the space and capacity and the clientele to be very inclusive in our beer selection.”

In addition to the beer, Taco Mac has upgraded the menu to give customers better options outside of its wings, said Matthew Deckard, Tappan Street’s corporate chef. Wings are still the biggest item, accounting for about a quarter of food sales, he said.

But Taco Mac has added more healthy items, such as salads, and started seasonal changes to the menu, Deckard said. It’s also tried to bring a consistency to items across all restaurants.

“I think food, at the time when I came in, wasn’t at the forefront,” said Deckard, who joined Taco Mac in 2005. “Beer was the strong point. Now, food is starting to evolve more.”

Taco Mac’s new growth is coming as a U.S. slowdown and higher commodity costs threaten the overall restaurant industry. Taco Mac’s same-store sales, though, are still expected to be up this year, Campbell said. During the last major slowdown in 2000 and 2001, Taco Mac lagged the industry, Campbell said. Sales stayed strong through the downturn but slowed as the economy bounced back, he said.

Patrons may have turned to Taco Mac as an affordable option in the downturn and returned to some higher-end restaurants once the outlook improved, Campbell said.

Tappan Street is closely watching the Charlotte economy, Campbell said. Charlotte is a major hub for banking, which has been hit by financial crisis, he said.

Taco Mac, though, feels confident about its expansion plans, Campbell said. “Right now, nobody is putting a hold on us,” he said. “We’re dragging our feet a little bit on Charlotte just to see what happens up there with the banking.”

The Decatur City Council and Decatur School Board will hold a joint work session tonight to discuss the possibility of annexing two large neighborhoods and more commercial areas into the city’s borders.

A recently released study shows that the 4-square mile city relies mostly on property taxes for its revenue. Even with modest growth, the city projects it will need to raise those taxes if it does not add additional assessments, both residential and commercial.However, the annexation of the Forrest Hills and Midway Woods neighborhoods would add about 450 students to the school district, requiring 7 to 10 new classrooms. Residents had opposed earlier talk of annexation because of the impact on the small school district.

Cathy Vogel gets a creepy feeling when she approaches the door to a rarely used marble staircase at the Old Courthouse on the Square in Decatur.

“I just felt like there was something back there,” Vogel said, of the first time she came close to the door, “an overwhelming feeling of sadness.” A local ghost-hunter group will check out the claims of Vogel and others that something otherworldly lives in that four-story stairwell.

A metro area all-volunteer group called GRASP — Georgia Research of Apparitional Sightings and the Paranormal — will unleash its infrared cameras, electromagnetic field detectors, audiorecorders and laser thermometers on the 1898 building that has not been used as a courthouse since the 1960s.

With 10 investigations already under its belt, GRASP contacted the DeKalb History Center about a month ago.

“They asked if we knew of any haunted buildings in DeKalb County and we said, ‘Yes, our building!’ ” said heritage educator Leslie Borger.

The old granite courthouse is now home to the history center, and what was once the Superior Courtroom is now an open marble-walled, high-ceilinged ballroom that’s a popular rental spot for weddings, parties and meetings.

The staircase that leads to the back of the courtroom is said to be the lone staircase that was used to transport prisoners. It’s virtually abandoned and has not been significantly altered possibly since 1918, Borger said, when the interior of the courthouse was rebuilt after a fire.

A History Center newsletter from the 1990s recounts a volunteer’s experience with the door that Vogel, a former center board member, dreads nearing.

According to the article, the volunteer said a visitor stopped in his tracks at the door, felt cold and sensed someone was behind the stairs crying and saying he wasn’t guilty.

Vogel spent many hours at the courthouse during the early 1990s, helping reopen the building after the History Center conducted the building’s major renovation.

“I never ran into the cold,” Vogel said, of her experience at the staircase door, “but I didn’t stick around for long.”

On Saturday night, Kennesaw resident Benjamin Carroll, founder of GRASP, and 12 members of his group, will stick around for six hours — not in hopes of finding something unusual, but to try to explain the unexplained.

“Our main goal is to find the logical reason behind seemingly abnormal circumstances,” Carroll said, of his group’s pro bono work. “We’re mostly about research and about helping people who are afraid, especially children who are afraid.”

After reviewing what’s captured by eight cameras and 10 audiorecorders, GRASP will let the History Center know what it found, if anything.

Ninety percent of the time, weird phenomena can be logically explained, Carroll said.

“Even if something’s there,” Carroll said, “most of the time it’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Photo:Joey Ivansco/jivansco@ajc.comLeslie Borger of the Dekalb History Center climbs a staircase in Decatur’s Old Courthouse that has given some visitors chills.

Only once or twice a year does the band The Gentle Readers morph into the 70's pop cover band THE SUSI FRENCH CONNECTION, to play the hits (and misses) of that hollowed decade. The Susi French Connection brings big harmonized vocals and a reverence for pop to its spirited performances.Listen: Susi

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The very talented SANDRA MCCRACKEN's and husband DEREK WEBB return to the Attic tonight. She is supporting the release of her brand new project "Red Balloon" and he is touring in support of his recent release "The Ringing Bell." Derek He is formerly of the band Caedman's Call and she recently had a song featured in "Grey's Anatomy." Their folk rock songs are for fans of Emmylou Harris

Welcome toNext Stop... DecaturHere you will find all kinds of photos, some new and some vintage, and sometimes even Decatur/Atlanta/World news. Also showbiz news, so sit back and have some fun.....Look out, sign-post up ahead.....NEXTSTOP...DECATUR, GA.

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Decatur High School Football

The Saturday location will be across the street from the Chik-Fil-A on N. McDonough in downtown Decatur.--Open Year-RoundSaturday Hours: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Located near 498 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA

Wednesday Hours: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Located at 308 Clairemont Ave, Decatur, GA

Field Trips with Sue is an award winning blog about things to do with kids in and around metro Atlanta and sometimes beyond. The blog is a Nickelodeon Parent’s Pick winner and a featured blog on Raveable.com, (named by Travel + Leisure magazine as a top travel site). The blog is featured on ATL Insider (the website of the Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau) and has featured posts on national travel site, Travel Savvy Mom. Bi-monthly, see Field Trips with Sue segments on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta and occasionally the local Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA.

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Your Music Store AlternativeFirehouse is your music store alternative in the Atlanta area. We offer a wide selection of new and used gear including guitars, basses, keyboards, drums, PAs, pedals and more. Our staff is knowledgeable and friendly and you will see the same faces each time you visit us.

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Remembering the Past will Help build the Future

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Wanted:Pictures of The Decatur Theatre, Scott Drive-InTheatre , The Suburban Plaza Theatre and The Dekalb Theatre,North Dekalb Theatre,Toco Hill Theatre, The Emory, and /or any old photos of Downtown Decatur,GA.Please contact me if you have any photos that you think might be of interest. I would love to have a Decatur Theatre ticket stub.ThanksPlease visit myDecatur Theatresite.Also visit my Scott Drive-In site.Also visit my North 85 Twin Drive-Insite.

REGATOR APPROVED

The Court House looks so much better without that bandstand built in the middle of the front steps. Why would they block the front view. Why don't they move it to the left about 100 feet over in the grass area.

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Comment:Will be visiting Decatur from Philadelphia for Christmas...and I am counting down the hours. My wife, daughter and I are making it an 800-mile holiday road trip to Atlanta...love it! Many thanks for your site...it keeps me close to beautiful Decatur all year round.- Carlos from Phoenixville, PA

Hey Decatur, GA! visting from Downey, CA to run the marathon- thanks for the course support- loved the signs and spirit and hope to visit ur town during this stay or the next. Thanks again guys&gals- u were awesome! : Marina from Downey, Calif.